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You’ve flogged a computer game on eBay for £20. Six weeks later, you receive an email from the buyer saying he just got back from holiday and the case arrived but had no disc in it – he wants a refund (the 45 day deadline for eBay complaints has gone). You’re pretty sure the disc was in there. Would you give a refund?

I'd know for sure if the disc was in there, always check before sending CDs DVDs etc out!
In my early days as ebayer managed to cross pack 2 different VHS films so they went to the wrong guys, luckily one of them got in touch and I was able to persuade them to swop with each other, for a small PayPal credit to cover their post costs. Since then I ALWAYS check what's going out!

You’ve flogged a computer game on eBay for £20. Two months later, you receive an email from the buyer saying he just got back from holiday and the case arrived but had no disc in it – he wants a refund (the 45 day deadline for eBay complaints has thus gone). You’re pretty sure the disc was in there. Would you give a refund?

"Pretty sure" - either it was in there or it wasn't!? Why would you ever sell something without checking what you were selling?

If the suggestion is that a Royal Mail worker has opened the parcel, opened the case and taken the disc from the case, why would they not just steal the whole thing? It's an unlikely explanation.

I probably wouldn't give a refund as I would know for certain that the disc was in there. The only reason I might give a refund is because I know that I would get a negative feedback from the buyer if I didn't.

I'd ask the buyer to submit a compensation claim with the Royal Mail, who would want all of the packaging as part of the investigation. I would tell them that I would fully support their claim and send proof of postage if I still had it.

Either they're not telling the truth and won't bother filing the claim, or they are and will but then hopefully the Royal Mail would compensate them.

I;ve stopped selling on ebay because I got three people trying to claim things in a row. (Just unlucky I guess)

One, a brand new with tags Monsoon dress was apparently "torn" but ony after theyd removed the tags (aye, right!) a second because a zip was broken on a brand new pair of boots (again, no way would i sell that) and a third was for a dvd.

I'm helpful by nature and found these run ins with the nastier sides of human nature quite offputing. Ebay has got it soooo wrong with their rules all being in favour of the buyer now.

I was annoyed to receive an email informing me that anything I sell in future I will have to wait 3 weeks for the money to be released by paypal. Yeah right. Nice little interest earner for them. Ive never had negative feedback although I don't sell much, and I've been with them for years. B****y cheek if you ask me But its the principal of it. As you say it's all in the buyers favour especially the sneaky types.

O no Adrienne, why are they witholding your money for 3 weeks? Do they say there has been some transgressions on your part? I ask because, like you, I have been with ebay for years, also selling bits and pieces on and off.

No I would not give a refund. Ebay is a joke for sellers lately, I would know the condition of the item I sent out and if it was there, and after such a long amount of time I'd assume they were taking the p.

I'd ask the buyer to submit a compensation claim with the Royal Mail, who would want all of the packaging as part of the investigation. I would tell them that I would fully support their claim and send proof of postage if I still had it.

Either they're not telling the truth and won't bother filing the claim, or they are and will but then hopefully the Royal Mail would compensate them.

I'd do the same as Jamie.
I had this on Amazon, where someone said a book hadn't arrived four weeks after I'd posted it and wanted a refund. As I had the reciept I asked them to contact Royalmail and I would support their claim. I never heard anything after that.

Thank you to everyone who contributes to mse.

"Discipline is just choosing between what you want now and what you want most" - Unknown Author

I wouldn't refund. Mind you, this sort of happened to me on eBay and I got banned and Paypal are chasing me through a debt agency as I point blank WILL NOT refund (the person in question actually admitted via email to lying and boasted on an internet forum after Paypal gave them a refund that they got a great item for free). I really hate eBay!!

Flickering Embers grow higher and higher...I need a break and I wanna be a paperback writer!

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